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Smart Keyboard PRO – Typing Made Easy
Tested version: 4.6.1
Latest version: 4.7.1
Requires Android: from 1.5
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Summary
As much as we love Android, we don't always love the stock keyboard Android devices come equipped with. We've tested a lot of alternative keyboards for you, and you'd think that by now we'd call it a day—but no, because in the world of Android there's always something newer, bigger and better just waiting to be discovered.
Today we're reviewing Smart Keyboard PRO for you, a virtual, highly customisable keyboard and multi-language dictionary for your Android phone or tablet. Is it a worthy alternative to the stock keyboard?
Features & Use
Section rating:
Tested on: Samsung Galaxy Tab
Smart Keyboard PRO is a virtual keyboard rather than an application per se, so in order to get it running go to your settings menu, hit '“Language and keyboard ' and select Smart Keyboard Pro from the options.
Customising options galore
Once you've done this you can check out the application's extensive settings options: anything trigger happy writer's fingers might desire can be found here.
Here's a brief sum up of the most important set-up options:
Go to general settings in order to alter the keyboard's general appearance. There are seven different skins to choose from: iPhone, Android, Gingerbread, Galaxy, HTC, Gray and White. You can also select a portrait mode, make changes to the keyboard's transparency in case you don't want it to be 100% opaque and select a colour for the recommended word in the suggestion bar (different shades or red, orange and grey are available; this last option can be found under 'Advanced Settings').
As far as none-design related settings go, there are a lot of configurable options ranging from multi-tap intervals to actually customising smileys.
The language settings are equally extensive: you can make a lot of choices tailored to whichever dictionary you happen to be using, including reversing words in the prediction bar when using Arabic or Hebrew alphabets. Even more language-contingent choices can be made under the text prediction option, which harbours a number of useful features including 'Compound suggestions' (especially relevant for German dictionary users). Smart Keyboard Pro can also learn new words and add them to your glossary, customise punctuation, and much more.
Further set-up options include gestures (e.g. swiping left to erase a word); voice input, sound and vibrate options, backup and restore options and an export/import option for the dictionary. Lastly, a bunch of advanced settings are available including disabling multi-touch and ignoring the hard keyboard. You can also switch between full, compact or T9 mode. In a nutshell: you can modify and configure keyboard features to your heart's content.
Multi-touch
Let's move on to some of the other features. As mentioned, the application supports multi-touch, and it it does so well: the application is very responsive to multi-touch input. So go ahead, lightning fingers, give it your best shot!
Android 2.0 users will be happy to know that voice controlled typing is supported, relatively well.
Swiping
The keyboard interface has a swiping option, an absolute must in these swipe-crazy times. You can use swiping gestures to write (d-Uh), toggle symbols, switch keyboards, access a dictionary and more. Again, there are tons of options for customising your swipe experience.
Languages
This is where the application really packs a punch: the number of language packages currently available is pretty impressive. Languages have to be installed separately, but they can be downloaded for free.
Bottom line:
Smart Keyboard PRO is really one of the better virtual keyboard apps out there. It supports hard keyboards, it's efficient, it looks good and it runs smoothly. The auto-correct function could be better, but let's not split hairs.
Screen & Controls
Section rating:
Smart Keyboard PRO is certainly one of the nicer looking keyboards I've ever worked with—probably because I configured it to look exactly the way I wanted it to look.
Controls are very intuitive and there's a lot of guidance on how to make the most out of the application—from swipe tutorials to FAQs on the developers' website.
Price/Performance Ratio
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Smart Keyboard PRO can be downloaded for EUR1,99 from the Android Market—a very fair price considering that this application is really a keyboard powerhouse. A trial version is also available.
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Market Comments
DD, Sep 29, 2012
Used to like it... But even after repeated calibration, its become inaccurate and i have to rely on suggestion words to get through a text.
Toby, Sep 28, 2012
used to be good but developer is coasting This was my favorite keyboard for a long time but the developer hasn't updated it in a long time. Its integration with Android 4.x (ICS, JB) is non-existent: doesn't support the newer voice input; doesn't support the integrated custom dictionary, etc. Also doesn't have more advanced auto-correction, like when I miss the spacebar (which happens more often in JB since I try harder to avoid hitting the home key right below the spacebar). I keep using it since I paid for it but wouldn't buy it today.
Marcus, Sep 28, 2012
Where's the microphone? Voice-to-text inputs need a microphones. You have to search under settings and make sure HIDE COMMA is unchecked, which also controls the mic key. In most apps, the Landscape keyboard hides the screen when predictive text is on. SGS+
LA, Sep 27, 2012
Constantly misses key presses I really wish I could use this keyboard. I like everything about it except that it misses many of my key presses and that makes it frustrating to type anything with.
Michele, Sep 26, 2012
Best keyboard out there The best multiple language compatible keyboard out there
BoFawzi, Sep 23, 2012
very nice but one of the best, i recommend it can you please add (copy,cut,clear,paste) commands? and add settings shortcut please, perfect keyboard, but you missed one little thing in arabic language, the symbols above letters, arabic Punctuation marks, you can see it in go keyboard, i hope you add it to the next update
Hayder, Sep 23, 2012
I have problem There is no sound when I press the key? Please help me But its perfect ap
Jaeed, Sep 22, 2012
Force close The keyboard force closes on Samsung galaxy s3. Also resets to native keyboard on reboots.
Kristina, Sep 22, 2012
Jelly Bean Galaxy Nexus When using the keyboard now that I have Jelly Bean letters fly across the screen. Fix that and its perfect
Anton Mukhin, Sep 22, 2012
Very nice keyboard, but... ...it freezes way too often. Not good for a paid app! Have to use Swype instead (I have SGS2)
Tarm, Sep 21, 2012
Good features but annoying I cannot make it the default keyboard. It is always changed back to Android keyboard after rebooting.
Eric, Sep 20, 2012
Good This app is really good and it makes texting on a touch screen nice and smooth. After all this time though nothing has really changed for the app and I would like to see more skins and more things that could be customized. I don't think I should have to go to the internet and do all that other stuff just to get more skins. Stop being lazy and change a lot of stuff about this app so it can be better than the rest and if you don't then the rest will be better than this app.
as far as I know there is no option in Smart Keyboard to swype, where is this found in the settings?